A controversial proposal by Commissioner Randy Leonard to open a second temporary day access center for the homeless on NW 5th is off the table.
SIT/LIE COMMITTEE: “Spinning its wheels,” to quote one member this morning…

“Unfortunately the timing wasn’t the best,” Old Town Cop Jeff Myers [pictured center, above] told the mayor’s Street Access For Everyone (SAFE) committee this morning—referring to resistance to the new center from Old Town neighbors, including one of the SAFE group’s own members, Doreen Binder, Executive Director of Transition Projects. Myers had been working with Leonard on the new center.

“Is it really worth doing the leg work to find a second center if we’re just going to be fighting against each other?” asked a representative of the Lloyd Business Improvement District. Binder was not present at this morning’s meeting.

“It’s dead,” said Monica Goracke of the Oregon Law Center.

SAFE needs another temporary day access center—the current one at the Julia West House on SW 13th and Alder is overloaded and struggling to cope. But Erik Sten’s effort to locate a permanent homeless center on block 25 is also picking up steam, and neighbors say they don’t want two more social service centers in their district. SAFE has $50,000 to spend on such a center, but it’s proving almost impossible for the group to find one, which is frustrating for all involved.

“It really is up to this group to give me some direction,” said Myers. The search for a second space continues.